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The Japan Times
WORLD EYE REPORTS
ONTARIO |
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©THE JAPAN TIMES
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Saturday, March 27, 2004
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Back on the cutting edge of global competition
When SARS was first reported 12 months ago, Toronto, the capital of the Canadian province of Ontario, was one of the worst-affected cities, at least in terms of its public image. The World Health Organization issued a travel advisory against non-essential travel to Toronto in April of 2003, which had a devastating effect on business travel and tourism industries. A year later, the travel advisory is history and the region has bounced back strongly.
Ontario remains a vital business center in Canada and North America and is the main engine of economic growth and global competitiveness of the country. In fact, nearly half of its top 1,000 companies are in Ontario.
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eBox
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The Toronto Board of Trade encourages organizations and members to meet their business goals through networking, dialogue and interaction among industries in the Greater Toronto Area. The Web site has a wealth of information on doing business in Canada's main business and commercial center. www.bot.com
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The city of Mississauga is home to many Fortune 500 companies and some of the fastest growing corporations in North America. The Web site includes information for those looking to set up a business in the city, as well as interesting facts and figures on the area. www.city.mississauga.on.ca |
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JETRO Toronto works closely with the local, provincial and national governments to promote trade between Japan and businesses operating within the Greater Toronto Area. www.jetro.go.jp/canada/toronto |
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 The skyline of Toronto's financial district betrays a pace of economic activity seen in the world's other financial centers. |
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“Ontario’s economy is proving to be sound and resilient on a number of fronts to many challenges that have arisen. To accomplish our targets, we are becoming a more innovative economy. Innovation leads to new ideas, new products and services, which we can then export to the rest of the world,” says Joe Cordiano, Ontario’s minister of economic development and trade
The province has grown significantly over the last two decades due to its highly skilled labor force, strong and diverse industry clusters and increasing international trade.
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The hub of Canada’s financial services as well as business and professional services, Ontario is North America’s second-largest center for the automotive, IT, and telecommunication industries and fourth-largest for the biomedical and biotechnology sectors. The province also has some of the best research and development (R&D) facilities and universities in North America. FULL STORY
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Redefining the concept of localization
Honda’s global business approach has always been to adapt to each country and become as localized and as familiar with that market as possible. In Canada and North America, Honda has raised the bar in taking the local market. Canada ranks third in terms of Honda’s total global production and sales and Honda Canada has become the country’s fourth largest private corporation since starting off as a small sales company 35 years ago.
Honda Canada began local manufacturing in 1986 with only 40,000 units per year. Since then, its output has grown about ten-fold, producing more than 390,000 vehicles in 2003. Last September, Honda Canada also marked an important milestone as its 2-millionth Civic rolled off the production line in September.
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 Shigeru Takagi, president and CEO of Honda Canada |
“Because our vehicles are driven by Canadians and produced locally, this allows us to receive excellent direct feedback from our customers. About 80 percent of our vehicles sold in Canada are produced in North America, allowing our product design team to make continuous improvements to fit the market. We exclusively produce the Acura MDX and the Honda Pilot in Canada. We also produce the Civic and the Odyssey models here,” says Shigeru Takagi, president and CEO of Honda Canada. FULL STORY
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Deepening close ties
Ontario and Japan have much to offer to each other. Steadily increasing two-way trade and investment have brought our two cultures closer together. This global trade creates wealth for Ontario. And for Japan too.
It means great new jobs for our people, a rising standard of living, and an economy that is vibrant, competive, and poised to meet all the challenges of the 21st century.
Ontario is proud of its status as the economic engine of Canada and one of the world’s greatest traders. FULL STORY
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 Dalton McGuinty, premier of Ontario |
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